Physical Gifts and Objects with Spiritual Symbolism

 

Celebrations, ceremonies, holidays and festivals are incomplete without handmade gifts, souvenirs, wooden icon cases and candle stands. Here’s more about them

Church Gifts and Traditional Souvenirs

At certain online stores, you can find a whole array of gifting requirements from clothing to portrait embroidery to Paschal bags. The Catholic Church celebrates Pascha or Easter as a way of honoring Christ’s love, death and resurrection. Together as a congregation, it is a time to affirm the faith and the truth of Eternal Life. Beautiful Pashal bags are designed to be gifted and are used to store collected Easter eggs and koulich. Exquisitely crafted silk screen icons with traditional etchings make for a generous gift. Customers can also choose from handmade sweet or visiting card holders, quality copper napkin holders and scoops with silver gilding and filigree work. Church Souvenirs on the other hand are not just beautiful to look at but are deeply symbolic such as the fir trees, souvenir apples, birds and eggs. Dainty embroidered wall hangings are usually based on portraits related to the Orthodox faith and can be used to adorn the walls of one’s home. Of course, the gifts aren’t restricted to adults but include children as young as 5 years old. These gifts are commonly distributed during the naming ceremony or religious festivities.

Candle Stands, Sticks and Holders

Christian worship is synonymous with the lighting of candles. While it may have a strong practical function, a lit candle is also symbolic of the Light of Christ, who dispels darkness and illuminates the hearts of his people. Each candle stand and candlestick is cast from brass or plated gold and differs according to need and significance. Floor candle stands were used by the early church to honor the graves of martyrs. These days though, they are placed near the statues of Christ, the Virgin Mary and the many venerated saints as a symbol of worship. Available in varying thicknesses, the sand candle stands can be round or square and stand several feet off the ground.  Tabletop Candelabras are placed on the holy table while floor candle stands are placed closed by during services. Acolytes or altar servers often use processional candle holders when they read the Gospels, enter or take part in the procession. A special floor candle stand known as the primikirion is moved around by the deacons, especially when the Bishop serves the Lord's Table.

While gifts, souvenirs and candle stands are just physical items, they play a pivotal role and therefore great care is taken that they are of the finest quality.